The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center and U.S. development partners have opened the first transgender-specific center in Asia.
The Tangerine Community Health Center offers psychosocial counseling, hormone administration and pap smears. The clinic, managed by trained transgender personnel and gender-sensitive medical professionals, aims to become a model for quality health services and research on transgender health.
“The Tangerine Center will provide friendly, needed services to the transgender community locally, while leading the region in identifying and sharing models to improve healthcare access and quality among transgender people,” said U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies at a ceremony on Friday. “These efforts will be critical to achieving an end to AIDS, but will also contribute to a much broader agenda to promote the health and rights of transgender people.”
Thai Red Cross say current social, economic, cultural, and legal frameworks, as well as health policies, inadequately address gender sensitivity and transgender identity. Transgender people face issues like misuse of hormones for gender-affirmation, vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, stigma and discrimination.
“This is an immense step for Thailand and the region regarding the mobilization and advocacy for transgender health,” said Nicha Rongram, communications director at the Thai Transgender Alliance for Human Rights.
The clinic is funded by the United States Agency for International Development under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
The Tangerine Community Health Center is open Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 p.m. The center is located on the first floor of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre on Ratchadamri road.
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